Authorities are urgently searching for a convicted child abductor who was accidentally released from a London prison due to a paperwork blunder. Ifedapo Adeyeye, a 57-year-old dual British-Nigerian national, was serving a six-month sentence at HMP Pentonville for kidnapping his five-year-old son, Laurys N’Djosse Adeyeye. He was taken into custody after returning to the UK from Nigeria, where he had fled with the boy.
Accidental Release and Discovery
Adeyeye was due to be sentenced for an additional 12 months on April 21, but instead, he was released the following day. Prison staff did not realize the error until two days later, on April 23. The Metropolitan Police were informed by the Prison Service at around 1 pm on April 24, prompting an immediate manhunt.
Background of the Case
The abduction occurred on July 27, 2024, during Laurys' first overnight visit with his father. Adeyeye flew the child to Nigeria via the UK, separating him from his mother, Claire N’Djosse. Mr Justice Hayden previously described the abduction as being in the most serious class of cases, warning that Adeyeye posed a dangerous threat to his son's physical and emotional welfare. The judge noted that Adeyeye had been entirely dishonest and that his detention was the best, perhaps the only, hope of reuniting the boy with his mother.
Following a request from Laurys' mother, the High Court released the names and images of both father and son to aid in their location. The case has become more complicated as a Nigerian court granted parental responsibility for Laurys to two individuals, believed to be Adeyeye's relatives, without Ms N’Djosse's consent.
Authorities Respond
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson expressed understanding of the distress caused by such errors and confirmed collaboration with police to recapture Adeyeye. They attributed the mistake to an outdated paper-based system, which the government is addressing with an £82 million investment to digitize processes, roll out biometrics, and strengthen checks across courts to reduce such errors and better protect the public.
The Metropolitan Police stated that officers are carrying out urgent inquiries to locate Adeyeye and return him to custody.
